Northern Ireland's agricultural industry is being urged to take more control of the way training and benchmarking is undertaken.

The farming industry itself is being asked to help shape its own national occupational standards and help to develop the future scope and content of specific training programmes and qualifications.

Lantra, the Sector Skills Council for environmental and land-based industries is holding an initial consultation meeting with employers and representatives from across the agricultural industry, which will look at assessing if the current National Occupational Standards (NOS) are 'fit for purpose'.

Lantra's Project Manager for Standards and Qualifications, Jenny Smith said: "National Occupational Standards describe the skills, knowledge and understanding needed to do a particular task or job.

"These standards are used as the building blocks for qualifications, so ensuring these are right and meet employer's needs is vital to the future," she said.

Also commenting, David Seffen, Lantra's NI Partnership Manager said: "It is crucial to have a local perspective on skills and training, in particular the National Occupational Standards.

"Quite often what may be best fit in other regions of the UK may not be suitable for the agricultural sector in Northern Ireland."

Lantra is therefore encouraging all those who want to play a part in helping shape the future of these standards to join them and other industry representatives at an initial consultation meeting.

Held on Tuesday 10 February, the purpose of the meeting is to establish industry requirements for National Occupational Standards for managers and professionals in the agricultural sector to ensure that they match the needs of both learners and industry.

Further details: connect@lantra.co.uk

(BMcC/JM)